Top marks for St Roch's Primary

One of the P7 classes at St Roch's, taken by a Herald photographer in May this year.

St Roch’s Primary School was given the top rating of “excellent” for meeting the needs of pupils and self-improvement and “very good” for improvements in performance, learners’ experiences and the curriculum.

The inspection found a number of key strengths in the school, which also houses a unit for pupils with hearing impairments, including children’s courtesy, good behaviour, enthusiasm for learning and high levels of achievement.

It also praised staff commitment, the “outstanding” leadership of headteacher Mary McNulty and the effectiveness with which the school has included children with additional support needs.

The report states: “Across the school children feel safe, and work happily and confidently. They demonstrate respect, courtesy and support for each other, for staff and for visitors. Children work well together, but also approach independent tasks conscientiously and confidently.

“Children make very good progress in their learning at all stages and in all parts of the school… children for whom English is not their first language progress well across P1 to P7 by which time the achievements of many are very strong.”

Mrs McNulty said the school was focused on turning a “bad or negative issue” in a pupil’s life into a positive one to enable them to learn.

She said the aim was to target the needs of every individual child and making them believe that they can be anything they want to be – regardless of their background or family circumstances.

She added: “Our school is in one of Glasgow’s most deprived postcodes, but we do not allow this to be a barrier to learning.

“A number of our parents and families might not have had a good school experience themselves and we need to work with them to reassure them that our school staff have the skills and knowledge to be able to help them and allow their children to flourish.”

Liz Cameron, the council’s executive member for education, added: “I am delighted for the school community on the publication of this inspection report. St Roch’s has a wonderful, nurturing ethos that is helping every child to be the best they can be.”